POWER RANKINGS
1. New York Yankees
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
6. Boston Red Sox
7. Colorado Rockies
8. Minnesota Twins
ALDS: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
ANALYSIS: The Twins played a hell of a game to defeat the Detroit Tigers last night for the right to play the Yankees...in New York...the next day. Combine that with the fact that the Yankees swept the 7-game season series over Minnesota, the Twins seriously do not have a chance, right? Well, the Twins are a team that can slap the ball, get base hits, and do the little things right, but New York is a more complete team with the pitching and the hitting to do well in a 5-game series. We shall see!
SEASON SERIES: Yankees won, 7-0
PREDICTION: Yankees in 3
MATCH-UP: Carl Pavano v. Yankees in Game 3 (in Minnesota)
PIVOTAL GAME: Game 1 (We'll see if the Twins can hang with the Yankees)
ALDS: Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox
ANALYSIS: This is the third straight year the Angels and Red Sox will meet in the ALDS, and the previous two saw Boston come out on top. In matter of fact, since the Angels took a 3-1 lead in Game 4 the 1986 ALCS vs. Boston, the Angels are 1-12 in postseason play vs. the Red Sox. This year, both teams are quite even, as they both can score and can pitch, but for Angel fans, one can only hope that there will be a reversal of fortune as they play for Nick Adenhart's memory.
SEASON SERIES: Angels won, 5-4
PREDICTION: Angels in 5
MATCH-UP: Angel relievers vs. Red Sox batters (LAA has blown games late in the last 2 series)
PIVOTAL GAME: Game 2 (Weaver vs. Beckett)
NLDS: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
ANALYSIS: Two of the more complete players square off in this match-up with Manny Ramirez facing Albert Pujols. These two can do it all as far as getting on base, driving in runs, and hitting home runs and are near the top of MVP talks for the NL. So the keys will be who plays the best supporting role, and since getting Matt Holliday, the Cardinals have been on fire, while having two Cy Young caliber pitchers (Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright) does not hurt. However, the Dodgers did hold tight during Manny's 50-game suspension and have been on cruise control during the season...but could cruising too much, to the point of clinching the NL West late, mean a possible bruising?
SEASON SERIES: Cardinals won, 5-2
PREDICTION: Cardinals in 5
MATCH-UP: Tony La Russa vs. Joe Torre (two of the best managers in the MLB)
PIVOTAL GAME: Games 1 or 2 (if the Dodgers can take one of those games, the series will go 5)
NLDS: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies
ANALYSIS: Tell me if you have heard this before...the NL East Champion Phillies are facing against a hot, scrappy Rockies team. It happened in 2007, when Colorado swept Philadelphia en route to the World Series. This year, this happens again, but this Philadelphia team is fresh off of a World Series title, and actually are better now than they were then. If you take away the first two months of the season, the Rockies are very unstoppable as they manned up after the firing of Clint Hurdle. The Phillies have been steady despite Cole Hamels' struggles due to an injury, thanks to them picking up Cliff Lee. Also their offense of Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibenez is potent.
SEASON SERIES: Phillies won, 4-2
PREDICTION: Phillies in 4
MATCH-UP: the 2007 NL Champs vs. the 2008 NL Champs
PIVOTAL GAME: Game 2 (the Rockies have to stay in momentum)
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